Alligator Crossing

My May Memory is a shout-out to the Juniper Landscaper who sounded the alarm. This is a fresh, hot-off-the-press memory.

This morning as I approached the corner of Cypress Grove and Materita, I thought I saw a familiar alligator shape in the middle of the road. Or was it a Palm frond? Deciding to cross to the other sidewalk, I pointed ahead to the driver in a Juniper truck who was waiting for me to cross.  Continuing on my run down Cypress Grove, I realized that instead of turning left, he sped forward and came to a screeching halt. The worker leapt from his truck shouting and waving his arms, “Ma’am, Ma’am, there’s a baby alligator coming toward you.” Sure enough it wasn’t a Palm frond. With the worker shooing it forward, the young, terrified alligator, about three feet, ran across the road in a wobbling jig zag path through the median shrub to the pond. I stood watching this drama unfold, thrilled at the sight, and appreciative of the landscaper’s warning. “It’s in the water Ma’am.” Thanking him, I turned around to run down Materita.

Ah, life in paradise.